Smoking Addiction & Recovery Support Group

The CDC claims that nicotine is a "very addictive drug" that can be "as addictive as heroin or cocaine." Nicotine is typically eliminated from the body within 2 to 3 days, however, physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms may last for much longer depending on the individual. If you are trying to kick the habit, this community is dedicated to giving smokers the...

142 days! what worked for me

I tried the patch on and off for 3 months. For two or three weeks, everything was fine...then relapse..Didn't work.. So then I got mad.. and quit cold turkey! Whew!!

After I had not smoked for about 4 weeks, I took a puff, and it felt like my lungs were on fire. It was like the first drag I ever took. That sealed the deal for me.

Every time I think about smoking, which is every time my brother or boyfriend light up, I make a mental picture of my lungs melting from that puff.

When I first put them down I read that the average nicotine fit will last no more than a couple of minuites. It's true. When the idea comes to me, I just breathe, and let it pass. It does work!!

Breathing is interesting when you are a nonsmoker. It seems like when I first quit, I caught myself holding my breath alot. I finally realized that it was my habit of inhaling...holding...and exhaling that was causing that. I really believe that whole scenario causes people to feel a sense of panic and anxiety. I noticed it when I was watching my brother try to quit. I finally found a way to teach my brain not to do that. I kept a bottle of water on me at all times. Everytime I felt that was happening, I took a sip. I think that the water helped me flush out alot of toxins right off the rip. My skin was terrible for weeks.

I really appreciate your post! I was wondering why I seem to hold my breath so much. I don't even realize I'm going it until I catch my self.....then I try keep from doing it! Eventually, i forget.....Until I catch my self again. That really made sense what you said, I haven't thought of it that way at all! Thank You, I am going to keep working on......Just breathe normal....Thanks again~Misty

I'm going on around five or six months now (I decided not to really track it, because it's just a reminder of how long it's been - more in a negative manner, I worry it'll make me dwell on it and pine for a smoke more often), after quitting cold turkey. My mechanism for beating urges is possibly a little strange, but if can help anyone out then I'm willing to share it. The day that I quit smoking, that was it. I was a non-smoker. And so, naturally, it was a little brutal for a week, you just kinda of have to trudge past it - at a certain point, when the urges weren't an &quot;every ten minute&quot; thing, I would mentally tell myself, &quot;You're insane. You don't smoke. You never smoked. What on earth are you craving a cigarette for?&quot; And sure enough...

They say if you tell yourself something enough you come to believe it; it's not that cut and dry, of course. I know I was a smoker, I know I smoked for years, but as far as my urges went it was easy enough to convince myself that I didn't need or even desire one with this method.

It does get better after a while. I get urges maybe once or twice a month now, I'm totally past it. I've even had a couple of cigarettes since I quit, knowing that I would never go back to it; I take solace in the fact that they taste terrible, and it's a reminder that I don't want to get used to it - and that I don't want to smell like that anymore.

Quitting is a wonderful thing, and it's actually a relief once the anguish is gone and you feel alright again and you can breath and smell things again. I wish you guys the best of luck. :)

I am concerned that you say you have been quit for 5 or 6 months but you also say &quot;I've even had a couple of cigarettes since I quit, knowing that I would never go back to it&quot; You say they taste terrible. In that case why do you continue to smoke them?

Firstly, to me you have not really quit smoking until you don't smoke ANY cigarettes. Non smokers don't smoke !!!

Secondly, be very careful, smoking a cigarette occasionally can soon
lead to 1 a day because you know you can stop, then 2 a day because you know you can stop. Before you know it you will be back to smoking at your old level (or even more).

welcome to the group...hugs...great job with 142 days...and real good scenerio on when you quit smoking...i never look at it that way...but when i thought about it..yep...
the more to share to the group..the merrier...lol...

I know how easy it is to slip back to it, I agree, I probably won't take the chance again. I think my resilience is partially due to knowing that I couldn't afford to now even if I wanted to. :P So yeah, you're right; I shouldn't indulge period.

A friend sent this to me..As far as I can see, grief will never truly end.It may become softer overtime, more gentleand some days will feel sharp.But grief will last as long as Love does - ForeverIt's simply the way the absence of your loved onemanifests in your heart. A deep longing accompaniedby the deepest Love some days. The heavy fog mayreturn and the next day, it may recede.Once again, it's...

Today is my 25th birthday, to my somewhat lack of surprise I can see already no one really seems to care. I've always been the kinda person to make sure that everyone I Care about feels appreciated and knew somebody had their back. I can count 4 times this year when I Went out of my way to make sure a "friend" felt good on their birthday, especially if they got left hanging. Its early in the...

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